Collapsible tube.



K. D. BRYSON.

GOLLAPSIBLE TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.14, 1913.

1,092,691 Patented Apr. 7, 1914 ,5, wi lmeooeo.

KENNETH p. BnYsoN, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

COLLAPSIIBLE TUBE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 14, 1913. Serial No. 784,756.

To all whom. it may concern Be it known that I, KENNETH D. BRYSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and 5 State of New York, have invented certain new and useful'Improvements in Collapsible Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to collapsible tubes especially designed for the storage and dispensing of pasty or viscous substances, such as tooth paste, cold cream, Vaseline, library paste, and the like.

The well known metallic collapsible tube provided with a screw cap closure or pin is familiar to all and though several inventions have been along this line it has many undesirable features, as for instance it is not strictly sanitary on account of crevices, the cap or pin is often dropped when removed from the tube, and if the cap or pin be left off for any appreciable time, the material within the tube becomes hardened and caked at the orifice. Furthermore with the various forms in present use it is impossible to sterilize the tube and contents after it has been filled. In addition when the cap or pin has been removed and the desired amount of the contents squeezed out a certain amount will voluntarily exude therefrom causing annoyance, uncleanliness, and waste.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the objectionable features of the tubes in present use and to provideacollapsible retainer formed of flexible metal,rubher, or other suitable material and provided with a novel form of discharge nozzle which is opened by pressure upon the container to allow the expeditious and cleanly removal of the required amount of the contents onto a tooth brush, finger, or other desired situation and which will automatically close when the pressure is removed leaving a smooth clean surface without any manual manipulation of the nozzle itself. 7

A further object is to provide, means within the nozzle whereby it may be locked to prevent the accidental discharge of the contents while in transportation or while in a traveling bag or the pocket.

Other objects and advantages such as simplicity, eiiiciency, durability, and cheapness,

will be clearly brought out in the following as specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved tube, the nozzle portion being shown in section, Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and Fi 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a slightly different form of nozzle piston.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the body of the tube having one end closed as at 2, by crimping, soldering, or in any other well known or preferred. manner. The other end of the tube has a thickened portion 3 upon which is formed a projecting nozzle & pro vided with a preferably cylindrical bore 5 within which is disposed for reciprocatory movement a piston 6. At its inner end the piston 6 is provided with a transverse opening 7 through which extends one end 8 of a spring 9 which extends through an opening 10 formed in the thickened portion 3 of the tube. The spring 9 exteriorly of the tube 1 is reflexly bent as at 11 and has its outer end bent to provide a projection 12 disposed within a recess 13 formed 'in the wall 3. Diametrically opposite to the opening 10 in the tube and in alinement with the end 8 of the spring, is a recess 14 formed in the interior wall of the tube.

The piston 6 may be of any desired cross section and provided with any suitable bore for permitting the passage of material therethrough, but I preferably employ a piston having a closed outer end and provided with a peripheral groove 15 extending longitudinally of the piston communicating with the interior of the tube and terminating short of the closed head.

The operation of the device is as follows: The tube 1 being filled in the usual manner, the contents may be discharged therefrom by simply pressing upon the closed end of the tube in the customary manner. The pressure will then cause the contents of the tube to be forced against the inner end of the piston 6 and also into the groove or passage 4 15. This pressure against the 'iniier' eiid'of the piston and against the closed head causes the piston '6 to be moved outwardly against the resistance of the spring 9. It will be observed that this outward movement is limited by the end 8 of the spring abutting against the inner face of the portion 3, but is suflicient to allow the outer end of the piston 6 to protrude suficiently beyond the end of the nozzle 4, as shown by dotted lines Patente a more.

in Fig. 1, to allow the groove or passage 15' to communicate with the exterior of the tube, whereupon the contents of the tube will be forced out. groove 15 as being semicircular in cross section though it will be understood that it may be formed fiat or of any other desired cross section for delivering a thin ribbon of pastethecontents, it is simply necessary to press the spring 9 inwardly whereupon the end 8 will pass through the opening 7 in the piston 6 and into the recess 14, as shown in Fig. 4, which will of course prevent movement of the piston. The end 8 of the spring may be pointed if desired, and as shown, in order to facilitate its passage through the material in the tube so that it may easily displace it and seat itself within the recess 14. The recess 13 upon the exterior of the wall 3 being engaged by the bent end 12 of the s ring 9 limits the outward movement of t e spring when it is pulled outwardly to disengage the end'8 from the recess 14 and also serves as a guide for steadying the movement of the s ring.

In Fig. 4 I have s own a slightly modified form of piston. In this form instead of employing a piston provided with a peripheral groove, as in Fig. 1, I employ a piston 16. which is provided with an opening 17 for the passage of the end 8 of the spring 9 and also provided with a central bore or passage 18 communicatin with a laterally extending passage 19 an' having a closed outer end.

The inner end off the piston 16 is shown' beveled, as at 21, in order to obviate the necessity of rilling more than one hole for the passage of the -spring. The operation of this form of the device is identically the same as that of the previous form:

Surgeons have heretofore found reason for objecting to the use of the well known types of tubes inasmuch as it is impossible to sterilize the tube and its contents after filling, as, if the ordinary form of tube were subjected to any appreciable heat the contents would expand'and burst the tube unless the cap or pin were removed and if the ea. or pin were removed the contents of the tu e would flow out. With my improvedform of tube this sterilization becomes a simple matter as it may be subjected to the required degree of heat without danger of bursting the tube as the expansion of the contents would force merely a certain amount of the contents through the autona tically movable piston until the pressure Wit l Y d; reup n h P t would retract itself.

I have shown in Fig. 3, the

It will thus be seen that I have provided a collapsible container or tube avoiding objectionable features of the old forms and incorporating many advantages which recommend its use to physicians, surgeons,

and all others desiring a sanitary and elli-' cient dispensing tube for surgical, toilet and other preparations.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A collapsible tube comprising a pliable shell and a discharge nozzle formed thereon,

said nozzle being provided with a closure which is automatically opened by the pressure of the contents of the tube, and means for locking said nozzle when in its closed position.

2. A collapsible tube comprising a liable shell, a discharge nozzle formed t ereon, said nozzle being provided with a closure which is automatically opened by the pressure of the contents of the tube, and releasable means for locking said nozzle when in a closed position.

3. A collapsible tube comprising a pliable shell, a projecting nozzle formed thereon, said nozzle being provided with a closure which is automaticall opened by the pressure of the contents o the tube, a spring for normally maintaining said nozzle in its closed position, and means for releasably locking said nozzle when in its closed position. Y

4. A collapsible tube comprising a liable shell, a projecting nozzle casing ormed thereon, a longitudinally movable piston slidable in said casing, resilient means for holding said piston in its innermost position, and means for locking said piston against movement. I

5. A collapsible tube comprising a pliable shell, a projecting nozzle casing formed thereon, a piston longitudinally movable in said casing, a spring engaging said piston for holding it normally in its closed position, and means for locking said piston against movement. v

' 6. A collapsible tube comprising a pliable shell, a projecting nozzle casing .formed thereon, a longitudinally reciprocator piston slidable in said casing and provide with a passage, and a spring extending transversely through said piston and said shell for returning said piston to its closed position. v

7. A collapsible tube comprising a pliable shell, a nozzle casing formed thereon, a piston slidable in said casing and provided with a passage, a spring engaging said piston and said shell for holding said piston in its normally closed position, and means for locking said piston a ainst movement,

8. A collapsible tu e comprising a pliable shell, a nozzle casing formed thereon, a pis ton slidable in said casing and provided with v a passage, and a spring extending through said piston and said shell, said spring being movable to engage a recess for preventing movement of said piston.

9. A collapsible tube comprising a pliable shell, a nozzle casing formed thereon, a piston longitudinally slidable in said casing, said casing bein provided with a recess upon its outer en and saidshell being provided with a recess upon its inner periphery, and a spring extending through said shell and said piston, said spring being provided with a bent portion in engagement with said first named recess and said spring being movable into engagement with said second named recess for preventing movement of said piston.

10. A collapsible tube comprising a pliable shell, a nozzle casing thereon, a piston slidable in said casing and provided with a a passage for the passage of the contents of said shell to the exterior thereof when pressure is applied thereto, a recess in the outer end of said casing, a recess in the inner periphery of said shell, and a spring extending through said shell and said piston,'said spring being provided with a bent portion in engagement with said first named recess and being movable into engagement with said second named recess for preventing accidental movement of said piston.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

KENNETH D. BRYSON.

Witnesses ALBERT H. REYNOLDS,

T. R. KNOWLES. 

